MacGregorSailors.com

So, I bought my Macgregor 26M last year and have had a modest amount of issues come up that has limited my ability to sail. With the boat, the major issue was the broken motor trim hydraulic cylinder. Most other issues were personal, split between lack of free time (me) and lack of available crew to come out and make sailing simple. Because my friends are all complete novice sailors, I've only used the roller furler jib for most outings. It wasn't until I went out in early November that we actually raised the main. It was an absolute blast and the boat did much better than I had anticipated. I left the motor down and the wind wasn't really that strong, but the boat responded well and we puttered at a surprisingly good clip. One thing I noted, though, was that the mast didn't rotate. I checked, later, and it looks like there is a tack weld at the base of the mast, along with a bolt.

I'm going to have time to mess about with the boat tomorrow and will take a photo, but I'm curious on if anyone else has a locked mast on their 26M.

I still have the rotating mast. However, I did "lock it" with a pin when I had a problem with the mast rotating and staying in the rotated position on setup and subsequent sailing. I worked out that the problem was that I had bent the mast on setup . Subsequently got the mast straightened and back to rotating. I also lock the foot of the mast when trailering to keep the mast orientated into my centre mast support. That being said, I am probably like you and have not really compared performance in either mode and I am not sure it makes an appreciable difference if you are just cruising.

Just my tuppence worth (I am old enough to remember when we had pennies for money down here).

PS: Tuppence = two pennies.

@sea shadow
How did you lock the Mast with a pin.
Details! Photos!

Idiot fool,

Running all lines to the cockpit makes it more enjoyable to single sail. No more going up on deck to raise or lower the main; no more going up deck to use the boom topping lift. There are not a lot of parts needed, I did it with three.

kurz wrote: ↑Sun Dec 18, 2022 3:07 am @sea shadow
How did you lock the Mast with a pin.
Details! Photos!

I found these old photos of pinning the base.






I'd be curious how/why the PO would tack weld it.

I can’t imagine sailing my boat without her rotating mast, esp in shallow water.

Ix

Mine is locked too... just bolted super tight.. have a slight bow to the mast port/starboard so it does not center ..
Not a big deal.
may try to straighten mast a bit.. so it will rotate.. not worried.. (what will you loose? 0.05knots?)

AD

kurz wrote: ↑Sun Dec 18, 2022 3:07 am @sea shadow
How did you lock the Mast with a pin.
Details! Photos!

Just drilled a hole through the plate attached to the bottom of the mast and the plate on which the mast rotates. Used a drop nose pin to "lock" the mast so it won't rotate

SEA SHADOW: just wondering what your process was to straightening the mast?

AD

I tried to do it myself by propping the mast either side of the bend but I couldn't get enough constant t pressure down on the bend ie my weight and additional suspended weight. Elected to go to a rigger who had an anchor point cemented to the floor of his workshop. Suspend the mast and block a tackle it straight. I was not there for the process but on speaking to him the M mast is quite substantial for the size boat. He did warn it might end in tears but everything worled out well. Apparently he over-corrected it slightly and it is now straight and good to go.

Thanks..

I did see someone block off a mast... and between the bows the put an I beam. Where the I beam was gapped and not straight, they put a ratchet strap and cranked on it.

Sounds like a similar method..


AD